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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Dennis Prager On Shame Makes My Head Explode

The most privileged group in a America, heterosexual white males want minorities to feel ashamed. Yes, it seems the pendulum has swung to far and we must all admit to some form of cultural culpability to move beyond the infant status. Take a breath right here, because the shit is really about to stink.

Why does one almost never hear expressions of group shame from members of any American group other than white Christians (specifically, white Christian male heterosexuals)? Are the only evildoers in America white male heterosexual Christians? Is there something inherently wrong about members of minorities expressing anything but group pride? Are there no minority sins worthy of shame? The latter is in fact the argument advanced by many intellectuals concerning black racism, for example. For a generation, college students have been taught that it is impossible for blacks to be racist because only the racial group in power, i.e. whites, can express racism.

Of course, that is nonsense. A black can be a racist just as a white can be one. A minority race might not have the power to implement racist national policies, but that hardly means that no minority group, or any individual, can be racist.

Can someone please explain to me what "A Black" is? I know there are black people but I have never heard of "A Black". While this man is trying to educate the world about racism he clearly has no problem resorting to racism to prove his point.

This so-called black racism that he speaks about is a reactionary emotion to generations of marginalization and exploitation at the hands of white males just like Prager. I am sure he would be happy if we would just all shuck and jive our way into silence and submission, but some black people demand the right to express their anger at our daily humiliations. Whiteness wants capitulation and we are daily reminded of this.

Prager is not looking for expressions of cultural or racial shame, what he wants is an admission that we are indeed everything that society projects us to be.

The labeling of blacks who express shame over disproportionate rates of violent crime and out-of-wedlock births in the black community as "Uncle Toms" is another.

There he goes speaking about a phenomenon that he clearly does not understand. The reason people who speak about violent crime and out-of-wedlock birth are routinely challenged is because their analysis often fails to account for the systemic racism that blacks live with everyday. If a child is shown from birth that she/he is less than, streamed into non academic courses, and is raised in poverty what results are to be expected? Yes rail against the poor and the disenfranchised for the very circumstances that society breeds, while white men like Prager get to pat themselves on the back for taking advantage of every privilege that he was born with.

If you are born with a silver fucking spoon in your mouth it is not that difficult to reproduce wealth. Anyone see any poor Vanderbilts, Kennedys, or Bushs running around? Anyone notice that the connection of wealth to family dynasty's in the western world that are overwhelmingly white? How many legacy's of colour do you think attended Princeton, Yale and Harvard in comparison to white legacies? Somehow, quite unimaginably we are meant to feel shame for the social conditions that are beyond our control.

If poverty, crime, and teenage pregnancy truly disturb you Prager, the way to combat it is to acknowledging your white privilege. No one, and that includes blacks want to live like this. The problem is that men like Prager are unwilling to yield their ill gotten gains for the greater good. Instead it is far easier for them to convince themselves that individual responsibility is the correct frame of mind thus ignoring the fact that we are highly social animals. No one is outside of socialization and Prager is the perfect example of the contemptible audacity of whiteness.

Being a minority doesn't exempt its members from moral responsibility. It will be a great day for America and the world when minorities begin to express shame as well as pride. In fact, there is real pride in expressing shame. Minorities should give it a try.

Well since he is such an advocate of expressing shame, perhaps he should apply it to this contemptible little piece and apologize to every single person that he offended by this diatribe. Show shame indeed-- you first asshat.

Intense Debate Comments

About Me

I am the mother of two darling little boys that fill my life with hope. They have inspired me to help raise awareness of the issues that plague this little blue planet.
If you are looking for a blog that is all about how wonderful and rosy this world is, turn right because this space will not be for you. I am a committed humanist. I believe in the value of people over commodities. I believe in the human right to food, clothing, shelter, and education. I am pacifist, anti-racist, WOC. My truth may not be your truth, but I intend to speak it nonetheless.
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